Generally spoken, Passing is the ability of a player to throw a ball into the hands of another player. This is a skill that requires accurate timing, great visual acuity, speed and fast decision making abilities. Its perfection cannot be learned in short time. It takes years of playing the game to be able to furnish the talent of Passing.

What is so important about this skill? Remember that Basketball is played by a team. A team consists of good number of players and obviously you cannot score a basket by playing by yourself. Michael Jordan is not going could not be in the hall of famers without the support of his team mates. This is what Passing is all about. It’s about supporting, complementing, and trusting each other’s skills. With Passing, players can function as one. There are too many of you, with different roles, but you get on the court to attain one single goal … winning Basketball games.

Your players must be able to deeply understand the essence of passing the ball. There is no one else who can help you on the court but your team mates. Now, let us look at the important things in passing the ball. There are few points that affirm the essential of this skill to the sport of basketball.

  1. Practice and improve the fundamentals of Passing
    Before you can perform the skill of Passing, you must know how to do it. Take the time to practice the art of Passing. When you pass the ball, make a step toward your recipient. Make a solid throw of the ball towards and do it quickly and smartly. The ball should be speedy when thrown to avoid interception. You have to avoid throwing slow and lousy passes since they are the cause of turnovers. When you master its concept, think of ways that you can better utilize the skill of passing. You are now entering the process of improving your passing skills to the next level. Try learning to pass behind the back, over the head, in between the legs, or even a no look pass, etc.
  2. Trust your teammate
    For you to be able to pass the ball around, you have to trust your team mates. Imagine yourself as a player and you have another team mate whom you know as a very slow learner. You see this team mate as someone who cannot improve and carry out basketball skills like shooting, or dribbling, however, you cannot do anything because he is part of the team, and your coach believes that he can get his job done. Would you ever pass the ball to him in a particular game?

    The problem with some players is that they think they know too much and can handle things by themselves. They tend to belittle the skills and abilities of their team mates. This should never be.

    Trust your team mate that they can dribble and shoot. Along with trusting, help them improve their game. Give them the confidence that is rightfully theirs. Recognize what they can do and look at the positive side, or the strength, of your team mates, instead of pulling them down. Pass the ball so that you can give them the opportunity to prove your doubts wrong. You cannot appreciate your teammate’s skills if you do not want to give them the ball. Don’t be a ballhog!

    Establishing rapport with your team mates is always going to be the utmost priority. You don’t do it just for the sake of carrying out a responsibility, but for the sake of making a harmonious working relationship among your team mates. It is in your work that you can, possibly, find your second family because it is the second place wherein you spent too much time with people whom you call as your colleagues and friends as well.

  3. Look for Open Players
    This is a fundamental rule of passing. You get the ball into the hands of players who are ahead of you and open to dribble and shoot the ball. When you pass, you should be quick enough to see where your teammates are positioned and advancing to. Learn to anticipate where they are moving. One way of doing this is to familiarize your team mate’s movements and type of plays. For example, if you have a team mate that can jump high in the air and shoot that basket, you can try to make an alley-hoop pass. Or, if you have a teammate who loves to go for a cut on the right side of the court, anticipate him to run down to the side, and then make a quick pass.

    Do not attempt to pass the ball to team mate who is well guarded. You are taking a risk in losing the possession, unless your team mate can outrace his man to open himself up, then you can pass the ball. Take the time to wait for your team mate to be ready for the pass. Do not just pass the ball to open players. You should see whether or not they are ready to receive that pass.

  4. Have eyes like an eagle
    This is another important role in passing. You have to oversee what is going on on the court. Observe the movements of your team mates, as well as your opponents. Notice how sharp an Eagle’s visions are. They can see everything from the point of their location. He is quick to sense where other animals are moving. Just see how swift they are in catching their prey. This is the ultimate key of passing the ball. You have to have that vision which allows you to see everything that is happening. Players with good visuals can easily get that ball to an open player before opponents can notice it coming.

Keep these important rules in your heart and mind. These will be your guide in enhancing your competence in the skill of Passing. Remember to always work hard, and keep on improving. Aside from being intellectually and physically equipped to perform this skill, the foundation of Passing lies in trusting your team mate.

Picture credit: compujeramey • Creative Commons Attribution